Vehicle running and propelling gear.



PATENTED NOV. 19,1907;

(3. B. PHILLIPS.

VEHICLE RU NNING AND PROPELLING GEAR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1907.

4 sHBzTs sHEET 1.

/Nl/EN7'0/1 CHARLIE E-Pnmmwa A TTOHNE Y8 PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

G. E. PHILLIPS.

VEHICLE RUNNING AND PROPELLING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1907.

l SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lNVENTO/i BHARLIEEPHHLLIPQ No. 871,623; PATENTED NOV. 19. 1907. G. E.PHILLIPS.

VEHICLE RUNNING AND PROPELLING- GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1907.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3 I lNVEA/(OH Emma: JL PHILLIPS I ATTORNEYS PATENTED NOV.19, 1907.

C. E. PHILLIPS. VEHICLE RUNNING AND PROPBLLING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET L.

INVENTOH EHAFJJIEEPHILLIPS By w mg,

A TTOfP/VE Y8 A principal feat/mo oi' .eodless thick oomposod of v l atPHILLIPS, a citizen of the Unii resident. of Brunei" l sap and Same ofWashington on Improvement in "moo-.6

Propolling Goons, of which tho followiiig is specification.

My invention 2.11 im'pz'ov ordinary Wlieols and a as of particularlyonopieil for traction tomobiles, and oblioz how vehicles, and i )1- useon soft, saintly or YOU devices adapted for contact WEI/i1 11 is roundor other smfaco for supporting e and also efi'estiw: propulsion, bearersbein ile i'oiy soiiiiectoil ing around elongated. liorizo'; 1approximately ova... the sin being arranged in pairs Y1 from? and maththe vehicle body.

My invention olso U021 3 features as Wi be lia oisiiifbei'ilesoi'iboi'l. The invention is lil "Id. iii illiQ mooinpm nyingdrawings, i

BUYUITG 1 1S 2.

proved runni gi ppll jt'l to o whole body. Fig. 3 is on onlorg ilfiBliliUZl-l cross section on tho lino 2-2 or fig. 1, the foot 01'bearers that work in oontzmtwilii tho ground or other surizwo Koo. womitlos Fig.

3 is a plan View of tho front running minus the foot or 7 iii-iii;-travel on the ground. Fig. i: llilili "V Y of iii-o rear i'umiingiiiittoil SQ bofoi'o. Fig. 5 is a hoax-o1 or foot constiti one which areH02; ml com travel around the l: Fig. 6 is vei-liozll 5' of Fig. 5. 7 is:2. side. shown in 5 and 6 central vertical mos-5 shown in 5 o 7 tivoView of frame of a foo- 1 spectivo View of one of to which the endlesstnW-olin plied. Fig. 11 isan en on the line ll-11 of lli Fig. 12 is aView of a modification in the connection between tlieunit-s or bearersof the endless track and the fi'zimo on which it travels. Fig. 13 is inpart 2. in p w;-

of ale-vices l Oval QUMDI! on tho line {i 316% to T 1, A. i. VilElClC,and oui'ved :itb'iol'ml to the unclor It 1 11.93 V find an onga. I 1 yand pro constructed "n liioli is thickened o1 .iMl also, as shown inFig. inner side. This rim E'SGlY by vertical bars m. diiizzl bars 23.The 'wro vertical 2: -;l.ll land ooomod oqiuclismntly uilmui center ofthe frame. l

lo: I. of two l(l(- portions shown in fig. fiilll to W 1 ho twopz'izillol side him-s 3 are riveted. 'l 2 sido bars M'Q formed of ongloiron, and to ll '1 middle portions iei .botwoen (fho transverse luvs 2.are secured the liwiriiigs l of on oxlo .5, which is suitablyiltliLClztNl Lao the control lower portions of tlfo somi-eili ytiosprings l3. Thus each ofthe lioii (rooms I in odophod to rock on theaxle in vertical plums so that their under siilui. 11 in i'ospeol'. toinclination with sin-ions O'i't'l' which the. vohiolo novels. no endlessi) which travels on and around each of i lxo lioi'izxmml parallel.{Z'SLH'EQS C, is ooi'noosoal g ories of units wliioh 3.!(3 'ozil in Iand construction moootml as well as attached so 2o Sllili om thereon.

mil-oil l y' i. '-3, 6 india. loot pro-ps1, ()l 'Llmt PU on which boarsiliioc "poo. Llw pound 01. other surface over .Uil L-Iiu V l 1i(j'lCiron-ls. Tho samv is olonguloil in :1 3; LSVLFSQ direct-ion, :1 idprovided on its under si lo with a rubber cushion 6. is oonneotod with obar '7 constiiintioig port of o. framo, by an elastic and univ ol joint,the some being formed of 9. bolt 8 that; passes "Lluongl o. SZQJ in tho1721! 3'', Mail has 2L solwi'ioiil hood 8" which is i! track upper sideof the foot proper 6. A spiral spring .l encircles the bolt and pressesupon the foot so as to hold it spaced from the bar 7 but prevent itsrotation. it is obvious that by this construction the foot 6 is adaptedto assume different angles corresponding to the particular inclinationof the portion of the ground or other surface upon which it rests as therphicle advances, and that the spring providesan elastic hearing, whichenables the foot proper to yield or ris vertically when subjected tounusual pressure. In such the bolt 8 slides in its bearing in the bar 7.The latter is attached by nuts to two parallel rods 10 which passthrough bores in the enlarged ends of a frame or bar 11--see Fig. 9.This .bar 11 is not connected directly with the rim 1 of the horizontalframes C, but indirectly by the means now to be described. The endportions of the bar 11 which is constructed of iron or other suitablemetal, are extended laterally, forming what may be termed wings 11see-Fig. 9and between the ends of these are pivoted transverse bars orblocks 12 which are provided with claws 13 that overlap and thus engagethe beveled edges of the rim 1. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 8, asliding dove-tail commotion is formed between the parts 12, 13, and therim 1. The claws are rounded as indicated, for the purpose of reducingfriction between them and the rim, and for allowing a certain freedom ofadjustment of each of the units or bearers on the rim as they travelaround it.

In addition to the spring support afforded in connection with the foot6, 1 provide a still more elastic support in connection with the upperportion of the bearer by the following means. A plate 14 having-its endsconstructed as hooks projecting upward, is secured by nuts upon theupper end of the rods 10, and hooks 15 are also provided on the lowersides of the bars 11sce Fig. 9. Spiral springs 16 connect the hookedplates or bars 14 with the hooks 15, and since the bars 11are free toslide on the rodslO, and the weight is imposed thereon tnrough themedium of the bars 12, it is apparent that the springs will yield andbecome elongated more or less according to the weight imposed on themand to the roughness of the surface over which the vehicle passes. Theseveral units or bearers are connected with'each other by two curvedlinks 17, thus forming an endless chain of bearers which constitutes anendlesstrack adapted to travel around the frame C or more articnlarl raround the 7 I rim thereof. The rim is made of such width that the unitsor bearers are duly supported when the vehicle is inclined siilewiscmore or loss.

To relieve friction all (he front end of the frames f. providisprochetwheels 1F at that point and mount them upon a conneetbe readilyunderstood.

ing shaft 19-see lugs. l and 4. The bearings of the shaft are fixed andsecured upon the front ends of the longitudinal fral'ne bars 3. The rim1 is slotted to allow the due pro ject-ion of the peripheries of thesprocket 1S thercthrough. For propelling the vehicle, I arrange largersprocket wheels 20 at the rear ends of the parallel frames C, the samebeing secured to a transverse axle 21 whose bearings are secured uponthe dropped down rear portions of the longitudinal bars 3. The rear endportions of the rims 1, are slotted to allow du-e projection of theperipheries of the sprocket whecls'20 therethrough, as will I propose inpractice, to drive the sprocket wheels by connect.- ing them with anypreferred form of m tor which will be carried on or form an attachmentof the body A of the vehicle. In this instance, I show-sec Fig. i-spr0cl;et wheels 22 mounted on the axle 21-, and with these a motor may beconnected by chains in a well understood manner.. In practice, also, oneof the sprocket wheels 20 will. be niountedfloose on the axle 21 andoperaiively connected therewith by means of a ratchet wheel and pawlaccording to a well,

known expedient adopted in traction engines, harvesters, etc.

Th front running ear is constructed in the main similar to lfhe rearrunning gear, save in the absence of propelling media, and of the frontsprocket wheels 18; in other words, of two frames C spaced apart andcomprising a beveled rim 1, vertical cross bars, longitudinal bars 3,and a series of bearers forming an endless track adapted to travelaround the beveled rim 1. ln place of an axle similar to the rear one, Ipropose to employ two stub axles 5*, .which are pivoted at 23 to a bar24 which is rigidly attached to the lower portion of the semi-ellipticsprings B. The bearings 25 for such stub axles are secured upon theangle bars 3 in the same manner as the bearings of the rear axle Thefront ends of the two parallel frames C are connected by a link 26 whoseends are pivoted to cars or short bars 27 riveted to the front ends ofangle bars 3. it will now be apparent that while the springs 13 are heldrigidly in their longitudinal relation to the body A of the vehicle, thetwo frames 0 with their endless traveling tracks may be turned laterallyin either direction, on the pivots 23 of the stub axles, as indicated bydotted lines Fig. 3, and without chang ng their parallelism to eachother. .I proppse. to employ any preferred means for turnlng the framesC thus to the right orlcft as required for sleering the yehicle, but Ishow for this purpose a vertical rotatable shalt 28-see Figs. 1 and ilthe same having a hand wheel 25) and its lowercnd connected by a chain30 with the cuds of the two opposite framesfl. it is obvious that byrotating the shaft 28 lbs chain will be taken up on bearers to slide onshe one side and peid out on the other, and the frames Cihereby skirtedllgliii, or left as line case may be.

The rods 10 forming ee? of the l'remeof the units or bearers l), :innybenzsile of vmi 011s lengths. Thus the lower oer to which the feet proper5 are attached, may be placed close to the upper portion or "frame ll ofthe bearers, instead of being spaced therel'romto the extent lndioeterl1n the rlinwisgs. In practice, oil cups 3l--see l fzfi w ill be appliedto the lowensirle of respectivle frames (3,) ,"so as to lubricate theparts anal enable the uni rim with minimum friction andweer.

In Fig. 12, I show .e'morlifioelirm oi the upper portion of a bearer orunit, of the endless track, in Wl'llCll place of rho 1 ogers clone orclaws 13'sl1own in Figs. 6 8,

apply rollers 32, the same being erreng inclined position and joulnsledon. the cross barlQ. In Figs. 13 and 14 1' show an other modification ofthe elsmgaled guide frame, in which Wheels are ei'nplo yecl. In thisinstance, insteed of employing e beveled rim 1, as before described, therim of the oblong i ems is formed of two side bars 33 which are arrangedparallel, and to the sides of the some are seem-ed channel bars 34,&1'1(lij|6l/-Vi)nl,l16 flanges of such bars, Wheels 35 are arranged totravel. it is obvious that the upper flange of the aris 34. willconstitute liho bearing for the wheels, which are arranged parallel endconnected by an axle 86100 which a U-sluperl bar 37 is applied and dulyconnected with loot 6. The lower 'llsnges of tile ports 34 serve merelyto re'lnin the wheels in place.

In Figs. 15 and 1.6, I show still another modification, in which theguide i lfidl lli C has a central pendent poriion 38 provided on its rimwith flanges 3%) between which nul slmul- (lers 40,1'enged wheels 41 arearranged to travel. The bearing against the slioulilors 40 and theflanges 3llsel've merely to llfilll illlC wheels in place. A foot isooimeotml with a forkenl'lreme or lie-r 42 which is suimbi mounted onthe stub axles 42) of 211m \vlliw-ls 41. Linl s l l-----see Fig.l5--connocL the several forked frames 42 flexibly, in the sumo manner asthe links 17 :onr1e :t llm mills or bearers of the endless tmol; l)boloro (loseribed. l

By the ()J1Sl"ilUl-l01l of the l'mnms (I, (1"

the manner (.losoribeml, may combine imixifeel; or bearers proper s'weysrest, on 'L- io grouse simnll: obvious imports-- and endless l ra-elepplier constitute whet Hall? be termed a. movable friction moi with liegm. the endless tracks 2 C", vel on the r nd be-cl, will: the otheri'v'orzls, lierl silo ground, {Lfilil viii" armor edge ol the afor saidrim, who said units are lzelrl in pleats on the z mtlaphed to slidethereon in the menu sp: :1 lied,

2. l1: vehicle gem'i OfltQil, 'l'llfi eon" slion arranged in o r'noelplane 513.10

' l 's beveled on ll l sills 1 (20111 sell or o s:; eluding ports'optorl for or, ground $1 11,. by; on the weirdly pr wl ell emo rim oflilo frame, em

.3. The oomlalrmlion win; in vertical plzmo an Dos-ed l a; nlelnl ll)evelml, and ma. omlll 'JCJlOS ol' nulls roll 0 wlilclu:

lremo :Lml l'm n: bearer lo! oonmo Line gi'onurl, the sniil top i i'smeomlz n'isl' I two bars \Vlllfiil an; sowed u nar-l. :mil cash providedwith oppo m": loin-willy n' jm olows mlnptod. to 1. urojlut bowled ,(lL; Llm @lorosn'irl rim, Zlllll whiz-[l1 HID rounds llmir inner sides, asnml for {lie mrposu liml.

l. 'llm (combination will) is iz'nmc' ni'mngl'xl in :1. vertical plane,olrm emlloss ll-rm of units, wliioli ing a part of mi vmllvss moi-slingll'l llao P e 1 smile oonsislm oi an upper poi: v l aiplod 20substantial csted, the combination with. a guide frcinc arranged in :1-vcrti :sl plane, and an endless traveling track composed of. a series offlexibly connected units, hsving a foot for cont not with the ground,and on its upper side provided with means for connecting it slidsblywith the guide frame, asupplementel or lower frame adapted to slidevertically in the upper frame, and springs which support the upper frameupon thelower one,

i as described. 4

7, In cvehicle gearing of the class indi csted, on improved slida-blebearer comprising an upper frame, a lower frame adapted to slidevertically therein, springs connect ing the two frames, the lower framehaving a foot for contact with the ground, substantislly as described.

8. In a vehicle gearing of the class indicated, the combination with avertical guide frame, of an endless track composed of a series of unitswhich are flexibly connected, and comprising a lower frame having itfoot for contact with the ground, on upper frame consisting of a centraltransverse bar, 'hevin 'leterelly extended wings arranged psrelle andopposite each other, bars pivoted between, the extremities of such Wingsand haV- ing clst-Ws for engaging the rim of the frame,

substantially as described.

9. In avehicle gearing-of the class indicated, the combination with aframe having an internally beveled rim, of an endless track composed ofa series of flexibly connected parts including a foot for hearing onsrnees the ground, and an upper frame including two parallel bars havingon their upper sides inwardly projecting parts adapted for movablecontact with the rim o the guide frame, said bars being pivoted in theupper frame so as to oscillate and adapt them to pass the sprocketWheel, as shown and described.

11. The combination With'a. vehicle body, of guide frames arranged inparallel position vertically and spaced apart, stub axles which arejointed to a part connected with the body of the vehicle, and journalcdin boxes secured to the central portions of the said frames, means forflexibly connecting the front ends of the two frames, and means forshifting the said frames laterally as required for guiding the vehicle,the frames being held parallel in any adjustment, substantizilly asdescribed.

12. The combination with a vehicle body, of parallel frames held invertical planes and spaced apart, and comprising rigid metal rims and sbrace and tie bar arranged longitudinally and composed of angle iron,bearings attached to the upper flange of such iron, and an axleiournaled in said bearings and connected with the body of the vehicle,

substantially as described.

CHARLIE E. PHILLIPQ.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMoN, AMOS W. HART.

